House OKs Temporarily Licensing for Military Spouses

(Juneau) - The Alaska State House of Representatives today unanimously passed a bill supporting Alaska's military families by allowing for temporary professional licensing of spouses. House Finance Committee Co-Chair Bill Thomas, R-Haines, sponsored the bill, House Bill 28, along with fellow veterans Reps. Bob Herron, D-Bethel, and Eric Feige, R-Chickaloon.

The bill will go a long way towards supporting our military families and easing their transition to this state.~ Rep. Bill Thomas

The bill proposes allowing military spouses to obtain a temporary license in their field of practice as long as they meet the professional standards that are already required by law or regulation. The licenses will be valid for six months, at which time the spouse has the option of obtaining an Alaska license or asking for a renewal of the temporary license.

"Alaska's military families deal with deployments, training missions, relocations, and extended periods of single parenthood. HB 28 allows them to be able to not only continue in their chosen field, but also contribute income to help keep their families afloat," Thomas said. "Military spouses are just like their civilian counterparts in many cases, and they come to depend on that second source of income. Alaska's not a cheap place to live. The bill will go a long way towards supporting our military families and easing their transition to this state."

HB 28 passed by a vote of 38 to zero and now moves to the Alaska Senate for consideration.